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Panic in MCD over Court observations

Staff Reporter

`Supreme Court's refusal to stay ongoing drive a setback'

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's observation on Monday pulling up the Centre and the Delhi Government for bringing notifications to save illegal businesses and trades in the Capital and creating confusion among Delhiites has led to panic among both the deliberative and executive wings of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

After having passed a resolution clearing over 2,000 roads for inclusion in the commercial and mixed land use categories and getting it notified by the Delhi Government, the leaders of the ruling Congress in the civic body were hoping that it would finally bring to an end the miseries of a majority of traders and residents who were affected by the sealing drive.

But now they fear that the Supreme Court's next hearing scheduled for September 25 might undo all their efforts. Moreover, the Court's refusal to stay the ongoing drive has also come as a setback for the Congress-ruled civic body, while the Monitoring Committee has directed the officials to step up the sealing exercise targeting illegal commercial establishments.

But senior Congress Councillors feel that all is not lost as the Centre would clarify its position before the court. "The MCD officials have decided not to touch 2,200 roads during its sealing drive. The present focus is only on hazardous businesses and violation of Master Plan and building by-laws. Traders will definitely get relief soon," claimed MCD Standing Committee Chairman J.K. Sharma.

However, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has blamed "disinterest" shown by the Congress at the Centre, the Delhi Government and the MCD in addressing the issue on time allowing the Court to intervene. Demanding immediate implementation of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, MCD Leader of Opposition Subhash Arya said the Supreme Court's remarks on the recent notifications has created panic among traders.

"Traders fear that the notification would not be able to save their businesses," he said, adding that making amendment to the Master Plan for Delhi-2001 would not help and the only way to come out was by notifying the new Master Plan that is already overdue.

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